Skopje, 24 November 2023 (MIA) – In a press release Friday, the Government said it has authorized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense to make a decision regarding the flyover and landing of Russian aircraft during the holding of the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje.

“At the session, the Government supplemented its Decision on measures restricting the access of Russian aircraft, in line with the Regulation of the Council of the European Union from the Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, with which North Macedonia is fully, or 100 percent, aligned,” said the press release.

The Government said that as a result of the supplement to the Decision, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense will be able to make a decision in terms of approving the flyover and landing of Russian aircraft during the holding of the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje on November 29 – December 1, 2023.

According to the Government, the supplementation of the Decision is in line with the EU Regulation and the provisions within the restrictive measures which establish exceptions to the restrictions regarding international conferences, such as the OSCE Ministerial Council.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also published a press release on the decision earlier on Friday.

Russian media recently reported that Russia requested the issuing of visas for 85 members of the Russian delegation which will participate in the OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje. According to Russian media, the delegation is set to include Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, “his doctor, technical staff, security”, 17 diplomats, including the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, and 24 journalists.

Photo: EPA/MIA Archive